Thomas h



(No Model.)

T. H. BRADLEY.

Game of Pin Pool.

No. 236,537'. Ptented Jan. 11, 188k N.PEERS. PHOTO-LJTHOGRPNEH. WASHINGTON 0 C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

THOMAS H. BRADLEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

GAME OF PIN-POOL.

SPECIFICATION `forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,537, dated January 11, 1881.

Application tiled December 15, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TnoMAs H. BRADLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at 'Vashin gton city, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Game of Pin-Pool, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements furnish a cheap substitute for a billiardtable, and dispense with all the table-balls save one, and with all billiard-cues.

With five pins, one ball,and an edge-guarded plate, which may be inclined in any direction to set a ball thereon in motion and to guide the ball according to the law of gravitation, I furnish improvements which afford a new game of pin-pool.

The improved game is novel in itself considered, renders amusement to adult persons as well as to children, cultivates quickness of thought and action, and aifords various combinations for practical exercise in two or more arithmetical principles.

I use a plate or disk, A, surrounded at the outer part with a raised surface, a, aa., suft`1- cient to keep within the bounds of the rim c, aa a ball or marble, B, which moves by gravitation when the plate A is inclined or moved from a horizontal position. This plane A, with rim a, aa complete, is all in one piece, so that a person holding its outer edge, aa, with one or both hands, may incline the plate at pleasure, and cause a ball, B, resting on the plane A, to move by gravitation and to operate with its own weight of force according to the will of the holder of the plate A, who aims the ball B to strike and overturn one or more ot' the adjustable pins c c c c c, which are set np on or about the center of the plane A. I also use a package of numbered cards. The cards used in playing this game are blank in every respect except that one number appears on each card. They are substitutes for small ivory balls, which are each numbered and used by being thrown or dealt from a bottle in playin g the old game of pin-pool on a billiard-table. I do not claim any material noveltyin the use of the cards; but do claim the right to use them, or the old style of pool-balls, or any other substance that will accomplish the purpose of 5o distributing a secret number to each player in playing this game.

(No model.)

' The material used for the purpose of manufacturing these improvements may be, for example, lead in sheet for the plate or disk A,

may be of lead, ivory, glass, rubber, stone, or any other convenient substance.

The rules of the game, further descriptive ot' the use of the improvements, are substantially as follows:

l to 5, and the ball being spotted, the cards are shuffled and distributed, one to each player, to determine the order of playing, the lowest number to play first, next lowest second, and

so on.

II. The cards are all returned to the pack and reshufled and redelivered, one to each player, to be reserved by him, its face showing a secret number, which counts on his score of points and prevents opponents from discovering` each otherls game until a call is made.

III. Thirty-one points is a game.

IV. The ball is played by tilting the disk.

-V. Every player must send the ball around all the pins at least once before striking a pin.

VI. When the player aims the ball at one or more pins he must deliver it across the disk to the outer edge of the circle, and Without further play bring it to a stop and place it on the spot.

VII. The ball bein g stopped, the points made by pins knocked down by delivery across the disk are announced and scored, and the pins being reset, the next player in order takes his turn, observing rules V and Vl.

VIII. If the ball is brought to a dead-stop before a play is completed, the player loses his shot, and the ball must be spotted for the next player.

IX. When a player has control of the disk, and causes one or more pins to fall without being struck by the ball or another pin, he shall forfeit three points, to be deducted from whatever he has made, and shall lose his play.

X. When a player obtains, the number of points be requires to make thirty-one, (including the secret number,) and has brought the ball to a stop, he calls 'pool,7 and thereupon becomes winner. If he allows his successor to play before he calls pool, he forfeits three points, and plays in turn again.

and in bar for pins c c c c c, and the ball Bf ,65 I. The pins being set upon spots numbered IOO XI. When a player obtains a number of points which, With the secret number on his card, makes him more than thirty-one, he calls busted, and thereupon surrenders the numbered card to the pack. He may, by paying a penalty, if any is required, or by common consent,draw another card and proceed again in turn until pool is declared.

XII. If the ball is brought to a dead-stop after strikin g a pin and before passin gout of the square, the player shall not count the points down, but shall forfeit three, as in rule IX.

XIII. If the ball crosses the line into the interior of the square, it is a shot, and shall be treated under rules VI, VIII, and XII.

XIV. Any number of persons, not to exceed the highest secret number on the cards, may play in the game.

XV. The score made in play, independent of the secret number, is to be pegged in the marginal spaces made for the purpose, if there are no more players than there are sets of spaces.

XVI. The game may be varied by special agreements, viz: first, the number of points shall be greater or less than thirty-one; second, that only one hand, say the left, shall be used in holding the board; third, that a penalty shall be imposed or waived, and so on ad finjiwtum.

The improvements are further described in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in Which- Figure lis a perspective View, and Fig. 2 a sectional view, of same.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The ball B, operating against the adjust.

able pins c c c c c by force of gravitation obtained by inclining the plate A, which supports the ball B and the pins c c c c c on its surface, substantially as described.

2. The game board or plate A, aftbrdingim mediate changes of level byinclination in any direction to set the ball B in motion, and at will to guide the ball B toward or against the pins c c o c c, all as substantially set forth.

3. The combination of the plate A with the ball B, operating on the pins c c c c c Without any stroke, touch, or concussion to propel the Vball I3, all substantially as described.

4. The game of pin-pool herein specified, when played in the manner and with the applianoes herein set forth.

THOS. H. BRADLEY.

Witnesses:

M. GARDNER, A. BELL. 

